'Digital Flood Dashboard' launched for transparency in aid distribution

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has formally launched the ‘Digital Flood Dashboard’ of the National Flood Response Coordination Center (NFRCC) aimed at ensuring transparency in relief and rehabilitation efforts, ARY News reported on Monday.

According to details, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal launched the ‘Digital Flood Dashboard’ – being called as NRFCC’s executive portal – following the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal noted that the portal will provide information to the general public and development partners about the flood relief assistance being received from home and abroad as well as its utilization.

The planning minister further said that Pakistan was facing with an unprecedented calamity which has affected 33 million people.

“The damages caused by the floods was being assessed on daily basis with the cooperation of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the United Nations and the provincial governments,” he pointed out.

However, the federal minister said, the final estimates of damage would be available only after water recedes from all parts of Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Ahsan Iqbal again urged the people of Pakistan to come forward for the help of the flood victims.

He recalled that Pakistani nation has valiantly faced calamities in the past, expressing the confidence that it will cope with the current one with the same spirit. He was confident that Pakistan will emerge stronger, united and resilient from this disaster.

A day earlier, the federal government decided to establish a ‘Digital Flood Dashboard’, which will keep the public abreast of relief measures.

Across the country, about 33 million people have been affected by the flooding, nearly two million homes and businesses destroyed, 7,000 kilometres (1.3 miles) of roads washed away and 256 bridges knocked out.